• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 14:16
CEST 20:16
KST 03:16
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
RSL Season 1 - Final Week6[ASL19] Finals Recap: Standing Tall12HomeStory Cup 27 - Info & Preview18Classic wins Code S Season 2 (2025)16Code S RO4 & Finals Preview: herO, Rogue, Classic, GuMiho0
Community News
Firefly given lifetime ban by ESIC following match-fixing investigation17$25,000 Streamerzone StarCraft Pro Series announced7Weekly Cups (June 30 - July 6): Classic Doubles7[BSL20] Non-Korean Championship 4x BSL + 4x China10Flash Announces Hiatus From ASL82
StarCraft 2
General
RSL Revival patreon money discussion thread The GOAT ranking of GOAT rankings Weekly Cups (June 30 - July 6): Classic Doubles Server Blocker RSL Season 1 - Final Week
Tourneys
WardiTV Mondays RSL: Revival, a new crowdfunded tournament series Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament FEL Cracov 2025 (July 27) - $8000 live event $5,100+ SEL Season 2 Championship (SC: Evo)
Strategy
How did i lose this ZvP, whats the proper response Simple Questions Simple Answers
Custom Maps
External Content
Mutation # 481 Fear and Lava Mutation # 480 Moths to the Flame Mutation # 479 Worn Out Welcome Mutation # 478 Instant Karma
Brood War
General
Flash Announces Hiatus From ASL [ASL19] Finals Recap: Standing Tall BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ BW General Discussion A cwal.gg Extension - Easily keep track of anyone
Tourneys
[Megathread] Daily Proleagues 2025 ACS Season 2 Qualifier Small VOD Thread 2.0 Last Minute Live-Report Thread Resource!
Strategy
Simple Questions, Simple Answers I am doing this better than progamers do.
Other Games
General Games
Path of Exile Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread CCLP - Command & Conquer League Project The PlayStation 5 Nintendo Switch Thread
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
TL Mafia Community Thread Vanilla Mini Mafia
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Summer Games Done Quick 2025! Russo-Ukrainian War Thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine The Accidental Video Game Porn Archive
Fan Clubs
SKT1 Classic Fan Club! Maru Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
Movie Discussion! [Manga] One Piece Anime Discussion Thread [\m/] Heavy Metal Thread
Sports
2024 - 2025 Football Thread Formula 1 Discussion NBA General Discussion TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023 NHL Playoffs 2024
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Men Take Risks, Women Win Ga…
TrAiDoS
momentary artworks from des…
tankgirl
from making sc maps to makin…
Husyelt
StarCraft improvement
iopq
Trip to the Zoo
micronesia
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 682 users

Employees Making Themselves Irreplaceable

Blogs > micronesia
Post a Reply
micronesia
Profile Blog Joined July 2006
United States24670 Posts
Last Edited: 2014-07-04 15:39:45
July 04 2014 15:37 GMT
#1
Usually, part of being a good worker or good manager is to do your job in such a way that others can follow it. What I mean by this is, should you suddenly need to take a leave of absence, others would understand what you were working on and be able to take over for you while you are gone. Of course, the transition won't be as smooth as if you simply stayed and continued your work, but it wouldn't be disastrous.

There are many ways to ensure a smooth handover of your work to others. Aside from briefing your closest counterparts on the daily happenings of your work, you should document as much of your work list as possible, and provide all key information necessary to continue the work. For each project you are working on, any information you had to go out of your way to acquire previously should be saved so others will not need to go hunting for the same information (e.g., if you annually request a new "employee rights and responsibilities training" CD from the federal Department of Labor, you should identify somewhere in writing who your point of contact is, how you get in touch with them to request the CD, and when). Another method of preparing your workplace to receive your work, should the need arise, is to train alternates on specific areas of your responsibilities. Should you need to leave or even get fired, there is a near-expert for each area of your work.

To what extent do employees actually go out of their way to make their work easy to hand off to someone else? I feel like there is a bit of a conflict of interest. As a hypothetical:

Company A needs to lay off either employee #1 or employee #2. They both do work of equal importance, but one will need to take over most of the responsibilities of the other, who will get laid off. Employee 1 carefully documents all of the work he does. Employee 2 keeps everything in his head. It would be easy for Employee 2 to take over Employee 1's work. It would be quite difficult for Employee 1 to take over Employee 2's work (assuming Employee 2 won't take the time to facilitate a proper hand-off of work). The easiest thing to do is lay off Employee 1 since the transition will be much smoother than the alternative. However, we are punishing the employee who did the "right" thing and rewarding the employee who did the "wrong" thing.

To what extent do large companies and organizations promote or require employees to be like Employee 1 rather than Employee 2? To what extent do people like Employee 2 get rewarded today? Is it amoral to purposefully conduct your work like Employee 2 to try to make yourself less replaceable?

*****
ModeratorThere are animal crackers for people and there are people crackers for animals.
Grovbolle
Profile Blog Joined July 2011
Denmark3805 Posts
Last Edited: 2014-07-04 16:53:33
July 04 2014 16:53 GMT
#2
If you read any book on organizational theory, organizational behavior or similar there will no doubt be a chapter on power (especially if it's an American textbook). There it will say that employees seek to make themselves irreplaceable and it's the job of manager and executives to string together an incentive structure which promotes knowledge sharing.

I recommend Morgan or Buelens as text books
Lies, damned lies and statistics: http://aligulac.com
Grovbolle
Profile Blog Joined July 2011
Denmark3805 Posts
Last Edited: 2014-07-04 16:55:07
July 04 2014 16:54 GMT
#3
As for your questions

1: Not enough sadly.
2: Not enough.
3: Yes and No, it depends on your beliefs.
Lies, damned lies and statistics: http://aligulac.com
Bluejava
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
Sweden135 Posts
July 04 2014 19:30 GMT
#4
I work in the restaurant business and I see a lot of people come and go and they all think they are irreplaceable. The irony
"I've learned one thing for sure: Life is random and chaotic. Trying to put things into a pattern will only temporarily solve the problem. Once you embrace the madness, it will stop feeling overwhelming."
PassionFruit
Profile Blog Joined April 2012
294 Posts
Last Edited: 2014-07-04 20:43:51
July 04 2014 20:43 GMT
#5
Nowadays anyone is replaceable. And I'd probably fire employee 2. Someone who isn't able to do something as trivial as document his work is a red flag for incompetence. Incompetent workers resort to weak strats like this to cement their place. Competent workers rely on their actual productive output or ability to comingle with the people that matter. Being secretive about your work is pretty shitty to be honest.

As for morals, this isn't a moral question. It's just a question of what is the most effective conduct to keep your position. If you're going to be Machiavellian about your office politics, there are better ways to do it than employee 2. He's being a total nubcake.
Striker.superfreunde
Profile Joined May 2010
Germany1119 Posts
July 04 2014 23:33 GMT
#6
That's a good question for sure.
I'm in a situation were i do ask myself the same over and over again. So far i've learned it depends on your direct supervisor.
Yes, i want to make myself irreplaceable. I don't want to have to fear about my work situation. But after a few years, i (everybody) have to admit, that this kind of 'irreplaceable' work does hurt in the long run. The next question which comes up is; What are the expecations of my supervisor? Do i fullfil his standards? At which degree i become replaceable? Should i take the risk?
I don't know... yet. I'm not experienced enough, and i don't know if i can ever experience this small degree, but what i've learned so far is, what i wrote already. If your boss is a selfish dick, you better be an irreplaceable employee :/
'Your ak is pretty... uhm... dank!'
n.DieJokes
Profile Blog Joined November 2008
United States3443 Posts
July 05 2014 02:54 GMT
#7
I think more importantly, by not documenting and carefully annotating work I can produce more output making me seem more productive and competent than an employee doing things carefully. So yeah, employee number 2 is the one to be.
MyLove + Your Love= Supa Love
ConductUnbecoming
Profile Joined May 2014
7 Posts
July 05 2014 06:15 GMT
#8
I have worked in HR for a few different large companies. Almost everybody thinks they are irreplaceable, and when that unfortunate time comes... They are surprised: Everybody is replaceable. Heck, the Oilers won two Cups after dealing Gretzky.

Managers can see your work ethic. They can tell if you are trying to make yourself irreplaceable by keeping things to yourself. And, qualities like that are not very endearing. They see you hiding things, and think: I can't wait to get rid of this jackass.

In the end, work ethic and your relationship with your boss will save your job. Nobody is Irreplaceable.
3FFA
Profile Blog Joined February 2010
United States3931 Posts
July 05 2014 16:46 GMT
#9
My father is in a situation where Employee#2 has infested the company and rather than being seen as a bad thing it is seen as the best thing you can do. He complains about it all the time since it is accompanied by everyone having more work than they can get done in their standard work hours(forced overtime!) and new employees fresh out of college being forced to join the toxic work environment just to get fired later for being employee#1.

My father does his best to be employee#1 while dealing with employee#2's as best he can, although when he comes home he lets out all his frustration and anger… >.<
"As long as it comes from a pure place and from a honest place, you know, you can write whatever you want."
Fission
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
Canada1184 Posts
Last Edited: 2014-07-05 17:05:23
July 05 2014 17:05 GMT
#10
I feel like this kind of "knowledge silo" happens alot, but the real damage is caused when entire business groups adopt this sort of philosophy.

For example, I have worked in places where a group would explicitly not share information, obstruct requests for information, and ultimately attempt to control and corridor any flow of knowledge from their group to outside business groups (within the organization). This served as a way to maintain the image that they provided an indispensable business service which could not easily be replaced. Note, not just that they personally couldn't be replaced, but that the entire group, as a unit, couldn't easily be replaced.

This creates obvious major firm inefficiencies, but at the same time, it almost feels like a natural consequence of a rational agent trying to make sure they don't lose their job, but in this case the agent happens to be a group. I work as a database programmer and analyst for a big oil&gas corp, and trying to get other parts of the business to share their information, even when doing so should be in their direct interest, is like pulling teeth. And half the time when I finally get the data (after months of political tank/viking wars), it's a 400mb excel spreadsheet only vaguely maintained. Of course they didn't want to share that - who would want to expose their own incompetence?

Another thing to consider, more directly speaking to your questions, is that if you are a valuable employee who has business-critical knowledge or function, if you don't train other people to do your job (or you obstruct/sabotage any attempts for this to occur), the other consequence aside from your being 'irreplaceable' is that you are unpromotable. For somebody who is ambitious and wants to become management, etc, it is almost necessary that they train others...

An oldie but classic (programming): How to write unmaintainable code
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
BSL20 Non-Korean Champi…
18:00
RO8 Round Robin Group - Day 2
Bonyth vs Dewalt
QiaoGege vs Dewalt
Hawk vs Bonyth
Sziky vs Fengzi
Mihu vs Zhanhun
QiaoGege vs Zhanhun
Fengzi vs Mihu
LiquipediaDiscussion
FEL
15:00
Polish Championship - Playoffs
Spirit vs GeraldLIVE!
Elazer vs MaNa
IndyStarCraft 509
CranKy Ducklings373
Liquipedia
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
IndyStarCraft 509
BRAT_OK 131
Hui .125
MindelVK 35
ForJumy 27
StarCraft: Brood War
EffOrt 1396
Larva 722
firebathero 448
Dewaltoss 122
LaStScan 102
Barracks 70
ZZZero.O 55
Shinee 51
Aegong 49
Movie 40
[ Show more ]
Terrorterran 35
sas.Sziky 22
Stormgate
BeoMulf168
Dota 2
Gorgc11094
qojqva3077
League of Legends
Dendi1530
Counter-Strike
fl0m1624
flusha392
pashabiceps89
Heroes of the Storm
Khaldor984
Liquid`Hasu455
Other Games
FrodaN5074
B2W.Neo1427
mouzStarbuck191
RotterdaM176
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick4780
EGCTV2448
StarCraft 2
angryscii 17
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 20 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• HeavenSC 52
• LUISG 13
• OhrlRock 1
• IndyKCrew
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• sooper7s
• intothetv
• Kozan
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
StarCraft: Brood War
• 80smullet 19
• Pr0nogo 6
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
• BSLYoutube
Dota 2
• C_a_k_e 1673
• Ler101
League of Legends
• Nemesis5421
Other Games
• imaqtpie1616
• Shiphtur241
Upcoming Events
Wardi Open
16h 44m
Replay Cast
1d 15h
WardiTV European League
1d 21h
PiGosaur Monday
2 days
uThermal 2v2 Circuit
2 days
Replay Cast
3 days
The PondCast
3 days
Replay Cast
4 days
Epic.LAN
4 days
CranKy Ducklings
5 days
[ Show More ]
Epic.LAN
5 days
BSL20 Non-Korean Champi…
5 days
Bonyth vs Sziky
Dewalt vs Hawk
Hawk vs QiaoGege
Sziky vs Dewalt
Mihu vs Bonyth
Zhanhun vs QiaoGege
QiaoGege vs Fengzi
Sparkling Tuna Cup
6 days
Online Event
6 days
BSL20 Non-Korean Champi…
6 days
Bonyth vs Zhanhun
Dewalt vs Mihu
Hawk vs Sziky
Sziky vs QiaoGege
Mihu vs Hawk
Zhanhun vs Dewalt
Fengzi vs Bonyth
Liquipedia Results

Completed

KCM Race Survival 2025 Season 2
HSC XXVII
NC Random Cup

Ongoing

JPL Season 2
BSL 2v2 Season 3
Acropolis #3
CSL 17: 2025 SUMMER
Copa Latinoamericana 4
Jiahua Invitational
2025 ACS Season 2: Qualifier
BSL20 Non-Korean Championship
Championship of Russia 2025
Murky Cup #2
BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025
ESL Impact League Season 7
IEM Dallas 2025
PGL Astana 2025
Asian Champions League '25
BLAST Rivals Spring 2025
MESA Nomadic Masters

Upcoming

CSL Xiamen Invitational
CSL Xiamen Invitational: ShowMatche
2025 ACS Season 2
CSLPRO Last Chance 2025
CSLPRO Chat StarLAN 3
BSL Season 21
K-Championship
RSL Revival: Season 2
uThermal 2v2 Main Event
SEL Season 2 Championship
FEL Cracov 2025
Esports World Cup 2025
Underdog Cup #2
StarSeries Fall 2025
FISSURE Playground #2
BLAST Open Fall 2025
BLAST Open Fall Qual
Esports World Cup 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall Qual
IEM Cologne 2025
FISSURE Playground #1
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2025 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.